Politics

LG Autonomy Antidote To Insecurity, Unemployment, Say NULGE National President

Published

3 years ago

November 24, 2021

Editor

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees NULGE, Comrade Ambali Akeem Olatunji has described the neglect and usurpation of the roles of local government by those he described as state political actors as major factor contributing to increase in the rate of poverty, unemployment and crimes.

Comrade Olatunji who spoke in Ado Ekiti during an exclusive interview with Roundoffnews after declaring open a youth conference, affirmed that the way out of the aforementioned challenges is for government to grant total financial independence to the third tier of government.

According to him, if the local government is allowed to operate in line with the dictate of the laws, some of the major challenges which has crippled the progress of the country will have been tackled.

His words: “No reasonable person will be satisfied with the current state of our local government system today, we have all witnessed systematic destruction of the local government system by state political actors.

“Unfortunately, the local government is supposed to be the hope of Nigerians because it is the most relevant, strategic and accessible tier of government but reverse is the case.

“Around 1979 -1984, we had a semi local government autonomy and that was when the council operated properly and recorded some great feats such as electrification of rural areas, opening of rural roads, provision of potable water. It also organized vocational programme for youths and women, and it was at that time that we had a formidable and effective security system.

“The most popular tier of government is the local government but it has been destroyed through conspiracy by political leaders who because of greed and selfishness cornered local government allocation and also used the instrument of state laws to seize local government IGR.

“The collection of some dues are sole responsibility of local government as highlighted in the Constitution but state government through the use of house of assembly highjacked this roles.”

According to him, the setting up of signage, land use charges, collection of fees from parks and tenement rates were sole responsibility of the local government which are means of generating IGR to support Federal Allocation which would now be used to cater for the needs of people at the grassroots but such system had be upturned.

“This is why you now have youth restiveness because no state government can provide jobs to all the youths, in the past we had instances where local government were empowering youths and women and giving out bursaries to students but that has become a mirage as the state actors now highjacked local government allocations and misapplied them,” he added.

Speaking on the youth conference, Comrade Akeem Olatunji said it was an initiative to prepare youths in the local government system for future leadership task and to also give them orientation on how best to cross the hurdles of unionism.

“We believe in our Union and if we must have a vibrant Union and future it is time to build the capacity of our youths and sharpen their skills.”

Comrade Olatunji showered encomium of the NULGE president in Ekiti, Comrade Oluseyi Olatunde for the great achievements he had recorded in office, urging him to sustain the tempo.

Politics

Edo Guber: Oshiomhole Advocates Peaceful Election As APC Inaugurates Campaign Council

Published

2 days ago

June 14, 2024

Editor

The Edo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday inaugurated its governorship Campaign Council with the charge to members and supporters of the part work for the victory of the APC candidate.

Inaugurating the members of the campaign council which is made up of 36 directorates, a former governor of the state Senator representing Edo North at the red chamber, Comrade Asams Oshiomhole, expressed confidence on the caliber of persons in the council.

He opined that the APC is poised to dethroning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power in Edo State democratically, adding that “the APC is fielding a candidate with minimum words but maximum wisdom.

He said: “We are going to win this election democratically. We are campaigning for peaceful election and that is what democracy is all about.

“The campaign is operation win your unit, ward, local government and senatorial district. Talk to your uncle, nephew, neighbour who is a member of APC, and who has a son who is in APC.

‘We want to win this election democratically without violence. We are campaigning for peaceful change of government. That is what democracy is all about”, he submitted.

Speaking also, the Director-General of the campaign council, Sen. Matthew Urhoghide, thanked the party for the confidence reposed on the council.

He tasked members of the campaign council to work assiduous for the victory of the APC candidates, noting that “we have a job to do as we are fighting th replacement that the governor wants to impose on us”.

While appealing to aggrieved members of the party to shield their swords and work for the success of the party in the election, Sen. Urhoghide, admonished the APC candidates to shun any avoidable distraction from friends and relatives.

Earlier in his brief address, the acting State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, expressed confidence ob the composition of the campaign council.

He said that the state has never been polarised as obtainable currently, arguing that the state government has brought more hardship to the people than the way he met them.

On his party, the APC governorship candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, promised to bring inclusive governance to the people.

Those who attended the inauguration include former deputy governors of the state, Hon. Pius Odubu, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, Gen Charles Airiavhere.

Others were former speaker of the state house of Assembly, Hon. Justin Okonebo, Hon. Gani Audu, Hon. Chris Okaebe, former APC chairman, Col. David Imuse (rtd), Hon. Osaro Obazee, Mr. Lawrence Okah, Edo State APC Secretary and Hon. Frank Ilaboya.

Politics

Ondo Poll: INEC Publishes Candidates’ Final List, Fixes Date For Campaigns

Published

3 days ago

June 13, 2024

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday released the final list of candidates for the Ondo State governorship poll.

The agency also fixed June 19, as the date for the commencement of public campaigns for the election scheduled to take place on November 16, 2024.

Seventeen political parties fielded candidates, but notably, no female candidates were among the governorship candidates.

However, one candidate from the African Democratic Congress is a paraplegic.

According to the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the commission’s publication followed the replacement of candidates by two political parties, the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Social Democratic Party, which conducted fresh primaries by the June 10 deadline.

Additionally, five parties; African Action Congress, the Action Democratic Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Peoples Redemption Party, and the Zenith Labour Party replaced their running mates only.

The final list, available at INEC’s Akure office and online, includes detailed information on the candidates’ age and academic qualifications.

“The Commission is pleased to announce the publication of the final list of candidates for the Ondo State Governorship Election. Following the initial primaries, the Commission published the personal particulars of the Governorship candidates and their running mates in the State and Local Government offices.

“In line with the provision of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, two political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates and their running mates by the deadline of June 10, 2024. The parties are the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Social Democratic Party, while five only replaced their running mates. They are the African Action Congress, the Action Democratic Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Peoples Redemption Party and the Zenith Labour Party.

“Overall, seventeen political parties are fielding candidates for the election. No political party has nominated a female candidate while one candidate nominated by the African Democratic Congress is a person with disability (a paraplegic). The final list also gives the breakdown of the candidates by age and academic qualifications.

“The list has been published at our office in Akure and also uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” Olumekun said.

As public campaigning begins on June 19, 2024, INEC has emphasised the need for civility and adherence to legal guidelines, urging parties to avoid incitement, violence, and voter inducement.

The national commissioner added that campaigns will run until midnight on November 14, 2024, just two days before the election on November 16.

He said, “With the publication of the final list of candidates, the next activity is an electioneering campaign. As provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, campaigns by political parties in public shall commence not earlier than 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours before that day.

“Therefore, political parties are now permitted to start the campaign in public from Wednesday, June 19, 2024, and end at midnight on Thursday, November 14, 2024, as indicated in items 8 and 12 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.

“As parties commence this critical phase of the election, the Commission once again reminds candidates, agents and their supporters of the provision of the law and the Commission’s guidelines governing such activity.

“For emphasis, parties shall conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum.”

Politics

Release Young People Arrested During ENDSARS Protest, Shehu Sani Appeals To Tinubu [VIDEO]

Published

4 days ago

June 13, 2024

Editor

Senator Shehu Sani has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to pardon the young protesters arrested and still being detained over the #EndSARS protest in 2020.

In 2020, some Nigerian youths had taken to the streets to protest against police brutality and the situation in the country. The protest led to attacks on police stations, formations, and officers across the country.

While some of the arrested protesters were released, others are believed to continue being held up in various police stations.

While speaking at the Democracy day Presidential dinner held at the State House Conference Centre Abuja, Sani said those who took part in the protest should also be considered as champions of democracy.

Watch video below: